http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,20120521,00.html

Yes, I believe breastfeeding is a wonderful, nurturing thing.

But when I saw the image in the UKs Metro paper this morning my reaction was one of: "Ewwww! There's something WRONG with this!"

It seems to try to sexualise an otherwise innocent act.

Is it the way the photograph was staged? Or what?

Anyone else feel the same way?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/11/2012 05:59PM by matt.

The kid looks to old to still be breastfed to me

She intends to breastfeed him for a couple more years, I seem to recall.

photo was staged was somewhat sexual, or at least glamourized. I'll bet there was a lot of photoshop in all those pics.

Doesn't bring up any sexual feelings for me.

thingsithink Wrote:
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> Doesn't bring up any sexual feelings for me.

Me neither. But it made me feel uncomfortable.

I too think breast feeding is a wonderful thing, I wish I would have been more successful at it. But a posed picture like this seems borderline abusive (for lack of a better term). To each his(her)own.

tiptoes Wrote:
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> I too think breast feeding is a wonderful thing, I
> wish I would have been more successful at it. But
> a posed picture like this seems borderline abusive
> (for lack of a better term). To each his(her)own.

Yes, Tiptoes! You put into words what I felt. borderline abuse.

When that kid becomes a teenager, can you imagine how he is going to feel when someone digs this Time cover up...?

lbenni Wrote:
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> When that kid becomes a teenager, can you imagine
> how he is going to feel when someone digs this
> Time cover up...?

+1.

...I then discovered was still breastfeeding her 4-year-old. It seemed like over attachment to me. Besides, I was hoping to be playing with those breasts soon, without getting milk all over the place.

Just because doing something is natural, doesn't mean you should put it on the cover of time magazine. People do a lot of stuff I don't really want to see....especially while standing in line at the grocery store.

I feel sorry for this kid down the road. Can you imagine the humiliation of that picture being passed around your 8th grade class? If you can spell milk, you shouldn't be breast feeding.

SICK.
There's thing called "weaning".

He must be almost four, and tall for that. My daughter was just over three when she weaned. And it certainly wasn't a public thing.

That pic is perverted and staged.

In the Time article there is a picture of a lady who breast feeds four kids. The oldest is six.

Saw this on the Today show this morning. He's 3, nearly 4, and he's in the process of weaning himself. Two years too late, in my opinion, but I agree - to each their own.

I'm on board with this particular image pushing it. Don't like it.

You guys are asking how he'll feel when he sees this picture down the road - what I wonder is how he'll feel when, as a teenager, he can still recall sucking on his mother's breasts. Seems like that has got to screw with a dude's head. I could be totally wrong, but it seems like any sexual experiences he has, or at least his first ones, would be spotted with memories of doing the same thing (albeit for an entirely different, innocent purpose) to his MOTHER.

Making him stand on the chair to reach her breasts adds a dimension to the photograph that really shouldn't be there. Nursing children sit on mother's lap, not stand on a chair so they are then at the same height as an adult male might be.

They are not looking at each other, they are both staring into the camera. "Hey. Look at US! See what WE are doing! We are looking at YOU!"

Her stance is... what? Odd? Like it is not quite sexual, but almost?

More like she's showing off her fine breast(s). Look at me, I'm supermom and have fine breasts.

I thought that photo was bad... then I saw this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxv6R9fUO74

I can make myself stop seeing breasts as sex objects if I concentrate. I really can. But then I’m left with a woman being a food factory. More like a hybrid dairy animal that is 90% human.

In the video link, those children also seem to see them as food factories. They draw and talk about breasts as if they are free candy dispenser on their mom’s body.

If I were a woman, I wonder if I’d want to think of myself as a food dispenser. Would I want to be an implement? A factory?

As it is there is a big divide between a Man and a Woman. If one half of the species spent a good portion of their adult lives as food dispensers, and the other half were just people/sex objects. That’s an even bigger divide.

Even though I can see them as non-sexual if I concentrate. I like sex object boobs better than Dairy animal boobs.

If you want some help thinking of them as dairy implements, there are non-sexual pictures on the internet of ladies breastfeeding puppies, and chimpanzees. If it’s non-sexual, and boobs are food dispensers, how is that any different? Milk, is milk, and the need for food is the same. Boobs produce food.

Just some thoughts.

I suppose it could be perceived as defiant and controversial. My Mormon SIL actually defended this article to my suprise on FB. Time subscriptions are down, so this will likely up their readership.

Personally, I don't care either way. Breastfeeding past 2 is not that unusual in other parts of the world nor does it cause any lasting harm to children. Granted, this is probably a biased site, but has several accredited sources:

http://www.lalecheleague.org/nb/nbsepoct07p196.html

I think it's about time for Americans to stop being so uptight about female breasts and breast-feeding.

I wouldn't do it, but each to their own

Standards just keep a changing.

I'm not sure it's feasible for Americans to "stop being so uptight about female breasts and breastfeeding" when Americans also celebrate shows like Baywatch.

I'm with Mia on this one. Just because something is natural, doesn't mean everyone wants to see you do it.

The fact that it's the norm for people in other countries to breastfeed further into childhood doesn't hold any weight. This isn't another country. It's America. Boobs = sex.

Obviously, this is just my personal opinion. *I* don't think it's cool, but in the big scheme, it probably doesn't matter at all.

It might get some people to wake up and not think this is "dirty."

Remember, there is also a photography director who set this up to be as in your face as possible.

I have to remember that the majority of fellow Americans aren't as blase about the human body as myself and many friends. I just don't see why this is such a horrible, evil, shocking picture.

that is exploiting the child. Who would take a photo like that of a young child, and then plaster it all over the world? I feel the child is being exploited. If she wants to nurse him, do it in private, not a photo shoot!
BTW most kids are in school for part of the day by that age. Methinks there a reason these kids are homeschooled... attachment, control, etc.

I suppose we'll see in 10 years or so if this kid is so twisted he's sprained. I was fairly suprised at all the pictures plastered on Google of breastfeeding toddlers.

Again, I have to remind myself that I am more relaxed than the average American about the human body. I'm just not freaked out by this photo.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/11/2012 07:11PM by Itzpapalotl.

My stepson's mother breast fed him until he was almost 5. Now at 17, he is very messed up and has MAJOR "mommy issues". He and his mom are best friends and fight like lovers.

Of course I am not blaming all of this on the fact that was breastfed until almost ready for school yet, its a part of a bigger picture in that a mother that would do this may also cross other boundaries as well.

It wasn't for me. Breastfeeding wasn't something that I ever enjoyed. I have SIL's who do it well past a year. I think that when a child can ask for the breast the child should be cut from the breast.

However, it isn't my choice to make and everyone has to do what they feel is best for them.

I wonder if there have been any studies done on the effect this has on kids who breast feed for an extended period of time, like past age 2.

porn than for feeding?

Just sayin'.

Taking something like breast feeding and making it provocative changes it from being about breast feeding.

MJ Wrote:
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> Taking something like breast feeding and making it
> provocative changes it from being about breast
> feeding.

Precisely so, MJ!

I have heard of other children who were breastfed later than some children, there was even a boy of 14 who still required breastmilk (from volunteer donors) because for some reason he could tolerate no other food.

Do you think this picture is controversial and sexualized?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3173958.stm

or this?
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.naturalparenting.com.au/upload/flex_img/large_11082008102510_01.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.naturalparenting.com.au/flex/breastfeeding-in-the-third-year-a-personal-perspective/97751/1&h=280&w=186&sz=10&tbnid=rTiyQLA7qdgHmM:&tbnh=186&tbnw=123&zoom=1&docid=pszMDx6rKhVffM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=tZmtT9XxJ6SSiQLOrYCPBA&ved=0CGUQ9QEwAA&dur=656

Or are you only disgusted because of the way the TIME photo came out?

Itzpapalotl Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Do you think this picture is controversial and
> sexualized?
>
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3173958.stm
>
> or this?
> http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.nat
> uralparenting.com.au/upload/flex_img/large_1108200
> 8102510_01.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.naturalparenti
> ng.com.au/flex/breastfeeding-in-the-third-year-a-p
> ersonal-perspective/97751/1&h=280&w=186&sz=10&tbni
> d=rTiyQLA7qdgHmM:&tbnh=186&tbnw=123&zoom=1&docid=p
> szMDx6rKhVffM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=tZmtT9XxJ6SSiQLOrYCPBA
> &ved=0CGUQ9QEwAA&dur=656
>
> Or are you only disgusted because of the way the
> TIME photo came out?

I found those photographs to be quite moving and not at all sexual.

The expression on the face of the mother with twins made me smile. She was obviously so proud of her babies!

Breast feeding long after teeth have come in to chew and swallow table food is just one of the elements of " Attachment Parenting"...

It also includes " Co-sleeping" or " The Family Bed" and " Baby wearing"..

I, personally breast feed my oldest until 2 and my youngest until 18 months...

When they ( the kid) starts pulling up ( or down) mom's shirt, it is time to let go - literally...

If a kid can chew and bring food to his mouth...breast feeding isn't needed..

For my son at 2 years old, it was only a comfort thing at bedtime...

I weaned him to books...I took charge and said, " lets read a book" instead of breast feeding..

He is now a very well adjusted adult...

The mother as interviewed on the Today show said, " He is self weaning"..

Is that going to be the case his whole life?...Self taught, self " weaned" out of mom/dad's house when he is 19, 22, 32?...

the parent needs to set limits and not let a child run the house..

I agree. See my post above re my stepson.

My stepson at 17 is still weaning....Not from breastfeeding but he and his mom and tied together at the hip.

He slept in her bed until he was 12 (finally stepdad said no more) and she wiped his backside until that age. He is NOT a well adjusted young man to say the least.

rgg Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I agree. See my post above re my stepson.
>
> My stepson at 17 is still weaning....Not from
> breastfeeding but he and his mom and tied together
> at the hip.
>
> He slept in her bed until he was 12 (finally
> stepdad said no more) and she wiped his backside
> until that age. He is NOT a well adjusted young
> man to say the least.

Oh. And that's only what she was comfortable about people knowing about...

Welcome to my world, folks.

I have a still-breastfeeding grandson who is having a fifth birthday party this Saturday.

I breastfed my children 12 - 18 months and stopped when they were doing well with solid food. To me, that seemed obvious. My daughter feels I weaned her too early and says she remembers feeling sad when I told her we were done with that and she was a big girl now.

The inside story of these prolonged breastfeeding kids is not a pretty one. The natural "no" stage of a two year old, the tantrums and so forth are all wound in with demanding the breast. There is tearing at clothing, there is screaming for the nipple every time there's a bump or cut, there is claiming false injuries, there is hitting, punching, screaming, crying like a baby in falsetto, masturbating while breastfeeding, wanting Mommie to "go to bed with me" ALL DAY LONG.

Worst yet, there are meals of breastmilk and bread. Breastmilk and donuts, cheetos, goldfish, graham crackers and the benevolent smile with the belief that "Thank goodness the breast milk makes up for it."

This craziness is clearly the result of some emotional problem with my daughter. She has tried to quit and it's like someone talking about quitting crack--I kid you not! She has put coffee on her nipples, bitter substances, weird colors, nothing works.
She can't quit and she says to me, "he gets hysterical if I refuse him and says his biggest fear is that I will stop letting him nurse."

Now we have entered the "BOY and I have a secret." It has become a closeted activity. He has been told to call it "cuddling." She has told him they can only "do it" in private, or in front of family. He persists in "playing baby" which she hates, using a strange voice. He tells me he wishes he were a baby. He has been pulled out of two preschools and she is home schooling him.

He has a little sister, age 3 who is also a breast-feeding monster. Adorable little girl who demands the breast and says she doesn't "agree" when her mother says no. The two of them breastfed at once when my daughter was here last and they couldn't even fit on the couch. When she is told no, she spits.

The last time the little boy was here, there biggest problem was his continual tormenting of his mother by licking her.

I swear I am going to lose my mind. On the other hand, this situation has done more to help me with my spiritual practice than any other. I have reviewed pictures of African women nursing ten year olds... I have chanted and said to myself, "It's not my child, it's not my child." Seriously, it has really helped me be more accepting of those different than me.

I love my daughter so much and she is being emotionally abused by these two. Yet she holds a leadership position in her community and is even making breastfeeding consulting her career. I often wonder if she is going to give weaning tips.

Thanks for letting me vent. And by the way, it IS weird to do standup nursing. So much so that a person I met in a toy store recognized my grandchildren and said to me, "I saw your daughter standing up nursing a child in the park. She looked frazzled and so tired...." My grandson is so tall he doesn't even need a stool to standup nurse. Geeze Louise.

Anagrammy

PS. He just lost two teeth. I wonder if he will still be able to suckle. Maybe my dreams will come true and he'll decide to quit on his own.

Emotional abuse by the children, or upon the children?

Either way, you are right to be concerned.

Speaking as a believer in attachment parenting and a mom who breastfed all of her 5 kids into toddlerhood, my first reaction to that Time cover (we subscribe) was: 'GROSS!!!'

Toddlers who nurse over the age of about two years only need to do so at bedtime or naptime, or when they 'fall down and go boom'. They are old enough to understand that there is a time and place and also that maybe it's time to move on.

Moms of toddlers still nursing toddlers at the age of two also know that its time to start teaching their kids to other ways of interacting with mom: story time, arts and crafts, walks to the park, etc,. That mom needs a visit from CPS. Nobody who is still nursing a toddler that age does it that way unless they have mental health issues.

And Time Magazine needs to get over the need to sell magazines by stoking the Mommy Wars or using sensationalism. If your sales are down, its about methods delivered, not subject material. How about an online magazine????